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Nehemiah 9:15

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And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

And gavest {H5414} them bread {H3899} from heaven {H8064} for their hunger {H7458}, and broughtest forth {H3318} water {H4325} for them out of the rock {H5553} for their thirst {H6772}, and promisedst {H559} them that they should go in {H935} to possess {H3423} the land {H776} which thou hadst sworn {H3027}{H5375} to give {H5414} them.

"'For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven; for their thirst you brought forth for them water from the rock. You ordered them to enter and possess the land you had sworn with your hand to give them.

In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land which You had sworn to give them.

and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

Commentary

Nehemiah 9:15 is a powerful verse from a lengthy prayer of confession and remembrance offered by the Levites during a significant spiritual awakening in post-exilic Jerusalem. It highlights God's unwavering faithfulness and miraculous provision for the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness.

Context

This verse is part of a grand historical recounting of God's dealings with Israel, found in Nehemiah 9:5-38. Following the public reading of the Law and a period of national repentance, the Levites lead the people in a solemn assembly to confess sins and renew their covenant with God. The prayer systematically recalls God's goodness from creation, through the calling of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, and the wilderness wanderings, culminating in His faithfulness despite Israel's repeated rebellion. Nehemiah 9:15 specifically recalls three pivotal aspects of God's care during the wilderness journey: sustenance, hydration, and the fulfillment of His ancient promise.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse vividly describes God's miraculous care for the physical needs of His people. The "bread from heaven" refers to the manna God provided daily (Exodus 16:35), while "water for them out of the rock" recalls the instances where God miraculously supplied water in the desert (Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:11).
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Beyond immediate physical needs, God is remembered for His covenant promise to give Israel the land. "Promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them" speaks to the fulfillment of God's oath to Abraham (Genesis 12:7) and his descendants, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His word, even when His people strayed.
  • God's Patience and Mercy: Although not explicitly stated in this single verse, the broader context of Nehemiah 9 emphasizes that God provided these blessings despite Israel's grumbling, disobedience, and idolatry. This highlights God's enduring patience and steadfast love for His chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bread from heaven" (Hebrew: לֶחֶם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, lechem min hashshamayim) directly points to the supernatural origin of the manna, emphasizing that it was not a natural phenomenon but a direct gift from God. The term "promisedst" (from the Hebrew verb שָׁבַע, shava') conveys a sense of swearing an oath, underscoring the solemn and unbreakable nature of God's covenant pledge regarding the land.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 9:15 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. It encourages us to:

  • Trust in God's Provision: Just as God miraculously provided for Israel in the wilderness, He promises to meet the needs of His people today (Philippians 4:19). This verse builds confidence in His ability to sustain us through difficult times.
  • Remember God's Faithfulness: Reflecting on past instances of God's faithfulness in our own lives or in the history of His people strengthens our faith for present and future challenges. It reinforces the truth that God keeps His promises.
  • Acknowledge God's Sovereignty: The verse reminds us that God is actively involved in the details of our lives, providing both for our physical sustenance and guiding us toward the fulfillment of His ultimate purposes, much like He led Israel to possess the Promised Land.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 10:3 (8 votes)

    And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

  • 1 Corinthians 10:4 (8 votes)

    And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

  • Deuteronomy 1:8 (7 votes)

    Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

  • Exodus 17:6 (7 votes)

    Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

  • Exodus 16:4 (6 votes)

    Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

  • Exodus 16:14 (5 votes)

    And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness [there lay] a small round thing, [as] small as the hoar frost on the ground.

  • Exodus 16:15 (5 votes)

    And when the children of Israel saw [it], they said one to another, It [is] manna: for they wist not what it [was]. And Moses said unto them, This [is] the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.